Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at today's cabinet meeting that Israel would reduce its economic dependence on Western Europe, due to the wave of Islamization and anti-Zionism that he said was sweeping over Europe.
Netanyahu's remarks followed the decision by the International Criminal Court in the Hague to begin an investigation of Israel's conduct in Operation Protective Edge, and to check whether Israel had committed war crimes. The decision drew strong condemnation from Israel, and the US also condemned it.
"The decision by the prosecutor in the International Criminal Court to open an investigation against Israel is the height of hypocrisy and the opposite of justice," Netanyahu said. "I have already encountered such things in my years of public service representing Israel, both as ambassador to the UN and as prime minister, but the prosecutor's decision here is a category in itself. It legitimizes international terrorism under international auspices. We'll fight against it using all means, and enlist others to fight this absurd decision, and they are already enlisting. We'll defend Israel's right to defend itself. We won't let IDF soldiers face an international tribunal. I also want to say that these measures will not deter us from doing what is necessary to defend Israel and its citizens."
Netanyahu referred to the visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is arriving in Israel today accompanied by a delegation of government officials and representatives of commercial companies. Netanyahu said, "I remind you that Japan's economy is the third largest in the world, and there is a mutual wish, reflected by my visit to Japan several months ago, for closer ties, increased trade, and greater investment between Israel and Japan. This corresponds to my clear vision of diversifying our markets. It was reflected in my visit to China a year and a half ago, and in meetings at the last UN General Assembly with the prime minister of India, and now the visit with Japan. It's part of Israel's opening to eastern markets."
At this point, Netanyahu said that he wanted to reduce Israel's economic dependence on Western Europe: "I emphasize the markets in the east, not because we want to give up on the other markets, but we definitely want to reduce our dependence on certain markets in Western Europe. Western Europe is undergoing a wave of Islamization, anti-Semitism, and anti-Zionism - these waves are sweeping Europe, and we want to ensure that Israel will have diversified markets all over the world in the long term."
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel's imports from the European Union (EU) totaled NIS 70.1 billion in January-November 2014 (1.1% less than in the corresponding period last year), while exports to the EU dipped 1.2% to NIS 49.9 billion. Imports from Asia during the same period totaled NIS 44.1 billion, and exports to Asia totaled NIS 31.7 billion.
Netanyahu stated, "Of course, we're also promoting Israel's development in other areas. What interests Japan and also other economies is Israeli technology. Today, we're getting a report in the cabinet about our actions to promote digital Israel. At the same time, we're also undertaking large-scale transport infrastructure construction. We're also building high-speed communications infrastructure that is reducing the socially outlying areas, and giving every boy and girl in Israel access to the world of tomorrow.
"In the end, we're also strengthening Israel and all its population groups by also taking care of the minimum wage. We raised the minimum wage for the first time in 2011, if I'm not mistaken, to NIS 4,300. I think that this reflects our desire to help all parts of society, and I'm glad that this was done with the consent of the employers and the workers. This is important for Israel, and we definitely welcome it."
Netanyahu said that the government would remove barriers to immigration to Israel by Jews in order to make it easier for French and other European Jews seeking to immigrate to Israel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 18, 2015
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